U.S. patent application number 10/316391 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for resource management on a personal area network.
Invention is credited to Brennan, James, Loven, Erick, Murphy, Michael.
Application Number | 20040116141 10/316391 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32505937 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040116141 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loven, Erick ; et
al. |
June 17, 2004 |
Resource management on a personal area network
Abstract
A method for resource management in a personal area network
includes providing (300) a plurality of communication devices with
sharable resources on the personal area network. Each communication
device has a resource manager able to communicate and manage the
available resources of its resident device on the personal area
network. Any one of the resource managers can be assigned (302) as
a master resource manager for the personal area network to
coordinate (308) information transfer and allocate available
resources from the plurality of communication devices. The
resources of each communication device is registered (304) in the
personal area network with the master resource manager, which
coordinates (308) information transfer with the devices when
resources are requested (306) from the personal area network.
Inventors: |
Loven, Erick; (Urbana,
IL) ; Brennan, James; (Urbana, IL) ; Murphy,
Michael; (Champaign, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOTOROLA, INC.
1303 EAST ALGONQUIN ROAD
IL01/3RD
SCHAUMBURG
IL
60196
|
Family ID: |
32505937 |
Appl. No.: |
10/316391 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/519 ;
455/518 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 84/10 20130101;
H04W 72/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/519 ;
455/518 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for resource management in a personal area network, the
method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of
communication devices operable on the personal area network, each
communication device having resources sharable with the personal
area network and a resource manager able to communicate and manage
the available resources of its resident device on the personal area
network; assigning one of the resource managers as a master
resource manager for the personal area network to coordinate
available resources from the plurality of communication devices;
registering the resources of each communication device by said
device in the personal area network with the master resource
manager; and coordinating information transfer with the devices in
the personal area network in accordance with their associated
available resources.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal area network is
operable on one or more of a wireless local area network (LAN) and
a wireless wide area network (WAN).
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering step includes
periodic checking for changes in the availability of resources.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the coordinating step includes
automatically re-routing information to adapt to changes in the
availability of resources.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering step includes
registering an available power reserve of each device, and wherein
the coordinating step includes automatically re-routing information
from those devices with limited power reserves.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering step includes
registering preference attribute of each device, and wherein the
coordinating step takes the preference attributes of a device into
account when coordinating information transfer.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the registering step includes
efficiency characteristics as one preference attribute, and wherein
the coordinating step takes the efficiency characteristics into
account when coordinating information transfer.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes
prioritized voting to determine which of the resource managers is
assigned as master resource manager.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting
resources from the master resource manager by an application
running on any of the devices.
10. A method for resource management in a personal area network
operable on a wireless local area network (LAN) and a wireless wide
area network (WAN), the method comprising the steps of: providing a
plurality of communication devices operable on the personal area
network, each communication device having resources sharable with
the personal area network and a resource manager able to
communicate and manage the available resources of its resident
device on the personal area network, any resource manager of an
available device in the personal area network able to operable as a
master resource manager of the personal area network; assigning,
using prioritized voting, one of the resource managers as a master
resource manager for the personal area network to coordinate
available resources from the plurality of communication devices;
registering the resources and operational status of each
communication device by said device in the personal area network
with the master resource manager; requesting resources from the
master resource manager by an application running on any of the
devices; and coordinating information transfer with the devices in
the personal area network in accordance with their associated
available resources, and re-routing information to adapt to changes
in the availability of resources.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the registering step includes
registering an available power reserve of each-device, and wherein
the coordinating step includes automatically re-routing information
from those devices with limited power reserves.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the operational status of the
registering step includes preference attributes for the available
resources of each device, and wherein the coordinating step takes
the preference attributes into account when coordinating
information transfer.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the requesting step includes
allocating application priorities, wherein in the coordinating step
a new application can preempt resources from another application in
accordance with the priority associated with the new
application.
14. A system for managing communication on a personal area network,
the system comprising: a plurality of communication devices
operable to communicate together, each communication device having
resources sharable with the plurality of communication devices and
a resource manager able to communicate and manage the available
resources of its resident device with the personal area network; a
master resource manager for the personal area network, the master
resource manager assigned from any one of the resource managers,
the master resource manager operable to coordinate available
resources from the plurality of communication devices for the
personal area network; and an application that requests resources
on the personal area network from the master resource manager,
which subsequently allocates the necessary resources.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein each resource manager is
operable to register an operating status of its associated
communication device to the master resource manager when the
communication device is powered on.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein each resource manager is
operable to communicate the available power of its associated
communication device to the master resource manager.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the master resource manager
coordinates information transfer of the devices and allocates
resources with the personal area network in accordance with each
device's operational status and available resources.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein each resource manager is
operable to communicate preference attributes of its associated
communication device to the master resource manager, and wherein
the master resource manager coordinates information transfer of the
devices and allocates resources with the personal area network in
accordance with preference attributes of each device.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein each resource manager is
operable to communicate efficiency characteristics of its
associated communication device to the master resource manager, and
wherein the master resource manager coordinates information
transfer of the devices and allocates resources with the personal
area network in accordance with efficiency characteristics of each
device.
20. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the resource managers
can act as the master resource manager, which is chosen among the
resource managers through prioritized voting.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus
that provide communication over a wireless personal area network
(PAN), and more particularly to methods and apparatus that provide
management of communication over a wireless PAN.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Wireless communication units, such as radiotelephones,
Internet appliances, personal digital assistants and other
apparatus may communicate over a wide area network (WAN), such as a
wireless cellular system or over a wireless link to an Internet
point of presence. In addition, such wireless communication
apparatus may also have a short-range wireless transceiver to allow
wireless communication with other local devices that are close to
one another. For example, Internet appliances may include a local
area network communication mechanisms, such as a Bluetooth.TM.
based transceiver, short range optical transceiver, or other short
range transceiver that allows communication via a local area
network with other wireless devices, such as printers, headsets,
etc. Generally, the wireless air interface between a wireless
communication unit and the wide area network and other local
subscriber apparatus will be different. For example, common
standardized cellular air interfaces include GSM, IS-95, IS-136
etc. Wireless LAN air interfaces include such things as
Bluetooth.TM., IEEE 802.11, Hiperlan.TM., etc.
[0003] When implementing personal area networks, a means of
allocating resources to instances of applications across the
network of distinct devices must be provided. For example, a means
of routing voice and data to the proper resources spread across the
network of distinct devices must be provided. Resource management
of multiple, distinct devices already exists for the fixed end
phone and cellular networks. For example, trunked radio systems are
able to determine what fixed resources are available to them. These
resources can include, for example, what transmission channels are
available, what consoles are available, what security modules are
available, etc. However, this fixed resource management has not
been done on small, personal devices using wireless technologies,
and cannot account for wireless dynamics.
[0004] Another approach to resource management is the Bluetooth.TM.
service discovery technique, wherein one device must query other
devices for available resources. However, in this technique, the
resources in the Bluetooth network are unknown unless a device is
queried about its resources. Further, one resource manager is used
to manage the available resources. This does not allow for easy
adaptation to dynamic resource changes in the personal area
network.
[0005] In addition, personal area networks tend to be very ad-hoc
with different devices available for each user or perhaps for each
connection. The problem is complicated where the power/battery life
status of a distinct device impacts the allocation of resources for
the instance of an application. A solution must be able to address
a more random availability of devices than fixed end networks. For
example, the on/off status of a distinct device requires a means of
reflecting availability of applications dependent on resources only
provided in that device, and a means of re-routing applications to
resources in other devices.
[0006] Accordingly, a need exists for a technique for a user to
define their own dynamic personal area network (PAN) incorporating
devices operable on either or both of LAN and WAN networks. All of
the resources in the personal area network should be able to be
managed by the wireless devices themselves. It would also be of
benefit for a device to determine what services/resources are
available from other devices on the personal area network, and a
means to request or receive updates on the availability of those
services/resources. It would also be advantageous if a personal
area network could provide a means of determining not only what
devices/resources are present, but also characteristics of those
devices/resources that help determine the most energy and/or cost
efficient means of providing services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The features of the present invention which are believed to
be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention, together with further objects and advantages, may
best be understood by reference to the following description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several
figures of which reference numerals identify like elements, in
which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a
system for managing resources in a personal area network, in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a graphical illustration of a setup menu to allow
wireless resource sharing in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating one method for managing
resources in a personal area network, in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention provides a technique for all of the
resources in a personal area network to be managed by the wireless
devices themselves. Each device has the ability to determine what
services/resources are available from other devices on the personal
area network, and request or receive updates on the availability of
those services/resources. In addition, each device has the ability
of determining not only what devices/resources are present, but
also characteristics of those devices/resources that help determine
the most energy and/or cost efficient means of providing
services.
[0012] In particular, each device in the personal area network will
have a Resource Manager that will determine which resources in the
personal area network are available and in-use. In particular, a
resource manager of a device will search for an available network
to link with and broadcast its resources to that network. One
device in the personal area network will act as the master resource
manager for the personal area network. The resource manager of each
device will register their available resources, such as Bluetooth
audio, display, memory, UMTS cellular, etc., with the master
resource manager. The master resource manager will then define a
table of resources available to the personal area network. This
table can also incorporate all the necessary protocols to access
any particular resource or device.
[0013] An application on any of the devices may request the
resources it needs from the master resource manager. Therefore, if
a user wishes to make a voice call, the master resource manager
will allocate the necessary audio and cellular resources of the
personal area network to the application. When the application has
finished, the master resource manager will deallocate the
resources. Assuming there are no resource conflicts in the system,
multiple applications could run at the same time using different
resources. For example, FM Stereo and UMTS Data Call could occur
simultaneously within the personal area network.
[0014] The resource manager within each device can act as the
master resource manager for the personal area network. A
prioritized voting technique is used to determine which device's
resource manager will be the master of the personal area network.
This can occur upon establishment of the personal area network,
upon an existing master resource manager leaving the personal area
network, or if a new device having a higher master resource manager
priority joins the personal area network and can act as master
resource manager. For example, if the device acting as the master
resource manager is powered off, the next device requesting
resources will discover that the master resource manager is gone. A
new master resource manager will then be selected from the
remaining devices to continue the personal area network. Devices
will have some type of configuration information that predisposes
them towards being the master. For instance, a headset or
speakerphone by itself may be a bad choice for master resource
manager due to its limited resources and also due to its role, i.e.
primarily an end-node I/O device. On the other hand, cellular
phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and personal computers
(PCs) all would make good master resource managers. Therefore, in
the present invention, each wireless device includes a resource
manager that is assigned a relative master resource manager
priority, which can be used in voting to select a master resource
manager of the personal area network.
[0015] In practice, a resource may not be always available, even if
the associated device remains in the network. For example, a
printer may be shared and therefore temporarily unavailable, or the
power of a device could be running low. Therefore, when each device
registers with the master resource manager, the availability time
for each resource will be calculated by the distinct device's
resource manager based on a time schedule or the current battery
state of the device. The availability time will be updated with the
master resource manager periodically to inform the master resource
manager of resource lifespan. If the battery in the UMTS Cellular
device is about to run out of power, or if the device is
temporarily unavailable, the user may be informed prior to using
that resource.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, each device's resource manager
will also register certain preference attributes for the available
resource. The master resource manager will use the preference
attribute when assigning resources for each application. For
example, a Bluetooth headset may have the preference set for the
audio resource, so that anytime the Bluetooth headset is available
in the personal area network, the master resource manager will use
it for all connections with an audio resource. These preference
attributes may be user settable, or determined by the distinct
devices. More preferably, the resource manager of each device can
have additional characteristics to register with the master
resource manager, such as relative cost of resources. These cost
characteristics will be tied to the user preference attributes, so
that a user can choose cheaper resources.
[0017] The present invention has the advantage of secure,
self-managed personal area network, using a scalable and powerful
mechanism to control all of the available resources within the
personal area network. Placing a resource manager into each device
ensures interoperability of all the devices for multiple, seamless
use cases. In addition, having each of the distinct resource
managers capable of acting as the master resource manager will
ensure that the personal area network will operate well without
requiring any one particular device to be present.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating resource management
in a personal area network 100 that includes a wireless local area
network (LAN) communication system 102, such as a short range
wireless communication system compliant, for example, with the
Bluetooth.TM. standard, or any other suitable short range
communication protocol including, but not limited to, 802.11 or
optical communication protocols. Optionally, the personal area
network 100 can include a connection to a wireless wide area
network (WAN) communication system 104, such as any one of the
available cellular communication systems such as a CDMA or GSM
communication system, a wireless link to the Internet, or any other
suitable communication system. The wireless local area network
communication system 102 portion of the personal area network
includes a plurality of wireless units 106a-106n, such as a
radiotelephone device, including, but not limited to, hand held
apparatus, laptop computers, desk top computers, or any other
suitable wireless communication device, and various wireless
peripherals such as a printer, fax, headset, speakerphone, or any
other device with a LAN transceiver.
[0019] Each of the wireless units 106a-106n includes a wireless
local area network communication transceiver, such as a
Bluetooth.TM.-based transceiver, and can include a wireless wide
area network transceiver, such as a CDMA cellular transceiver. Each
of the wireless units can communicate in a peer-to-peer arrangement
with each other using the wireless local area network communication
transceivers, and those with a wireless wide area network
transceiver can communicate individually with the wireless wide
area network communication system 104. As illustrated, wireless
units 106b-106n are operative to communicate using a wireless local
area network protocol with wireless unit 106a via wireless LAN
communication links 107a-107d. Wireless unit 106b and wireless unit
106d are in close enough proximity to allow communication between
these two apparatus as shown by communication link 108. Similarly,
wireless unit 106d and wireless unit 106n are also in close enough
proximity to allow wireless local area network communication as
illustrated by communication link 110. However, as shown, wireless
unit 106c may not be within an acceptable proximity with wireless
unit 106n to allow short-range communication between these two
apparatus. Optionally, wireless unit 106a is in communication with
the wireless wide area network 104 via link 120.
[0020] In this embodiment, each of the wireless units 106a-106n
includes (as only shown in unit 106a for simplicity) a processor
112, such as a digital signal processor, microprocessor, discrete
logic or any other suitable circuitry that can execute applications
and includes a resource manager. For example, the resource manager
of the processor 112 executes instructions that are stored in
memory 113 that cause the processor 112 to, among other things,
determine whether the resources of the wireless apparatus 106a are
available to share with the wireless personal area network. The
resource manager can also determine the life of a battery 116 of
the unit, an operational status of the unit, and preferably the
cost of use of the resource. All of this information is transferred
through the LAN transceiver 114 (and/or optionally the WAN
transceiver 115) to the master resource manager (in this case unit
106a) of the personal area network 100. Typically, the processor
112 of each unit is operatively coupled to a suitable user
interface 117, in accordance with the particular operation of the
unit, such as audio, visual, haptic, and mechanical user interface
devices. In particular, these interface devices can be a display
screen, keypad, speaker, microphone, voice recognition apparatus,
or any other input apparatus associated with the particular
resource of the unit.
[0021] In operation, the personal area network operates
automatically, without user intervention, to provide optimal
resource management. This automatic operation generally entails the
resource manager of each unit periodically looking for one or more
available personal area networks, and communicating with the master
resource manager of the network so as to register its available
resources on the personal area network. Additionally, the master
resource manager can broadcast a message to any available units to
register their resources with the network. The master resource
manager then keeps a table of available resources in its memory for
use by the personal area network as needed. This can all be
accomplished autonomously, including selection of the master
resource manager, as described previously. However, in some cases
there may be a need for user intervention in the resource
management of the personal area network. For example, if an
application running on any unit of the personal area network
requires a particular resource of some other unit, and there are
found two units with the same available resource, or if there are
no units with the resource, then a user can be asked to intervene
to decide the proper course of action.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the processor 112 of the master
resource manager is coupled to a display apparatus of a user
interface 117 to allow the processor to provide a set up screen 200
which presents a user input interface having a selection menu 202
to generate a message that a user can use to select or prioritize
the shared wireless personal area network resources within other
proximal wireless units. In this example, a set up screen 200 is
provided which includes the question, "There is a headset and
speaker phone available. Which do you prefer?". The user selects
the "headset" or "speakerphone" button, which then generates a
signal to the processor 112 indicating the resource selected. The
processor 112 then generates a message (such as link 107a to
wireless unit 106b for example) indicating that the wireless
apparatus 106b will allow shared use of its resources by the
application. Optionally, a button can be presented to prevent
resource sharing of a particular resource (or in the case of no
available resource) that directs the processor to ignore any I/O
request of the application directed to the indicated resource.
Preferably, this same screen set up can be used to prioritize
resources when a personal area network is first established. In
either case, the memory 113 is operatively coupled to processor 112
and includes executable instructions that when executed by the
processor 112 causes the processor 112 to, among other things,
direct the indicated unit to respond to the application I/O
instruction either directly from the requesting device or relayed
through the master resource manager. It should be recognized,
however, that instead of the processor 112 executing instructions,
any suitable hardware, combination of hardware, software and
firmware could be utilized as desired. Accordingly, the processor
112 may control other circuits or processing devices to perform the
operations set forth herein.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of resource
management of a personal area network, in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention. The personal area network is operable
on one or more of a wireless local area network (LAN) and a
wireless wide area network (WAN). The method includes a first step
300 of providing a plurality of communication devices operable on
the personal area network. Each communication device has resources
sharable with the personal area network and a resource manager able
to communicate and manage the available resources of its resident
device on the personal area network. A next step 302 includes
assigning one of the resource managers as a master resource manager
for the personal area network to coordinate available resources
from the plurality of communication devices. The master resource
manager can be assigned: upon formation of the initial personal
area network, upon the addition of a more suitable device into the
personal area network, or upon an existing master resource manager
leaving the personal area network. In any of these scenarios
prioritized voting is used among the resource managers of the
devices in the personal area network to determine which of them is
assigned as master resource manager.
[0024] A next step 304 includes registering the resources of each
communication device in the personal area network. This is done by
each device in the personal area network broadcasting its resources
to the master resource manager to be registered therewith.
Registering is done automatically. However, in the case of resource
conflicts, redundancies, power limitations, or other problems, this
step 304 can include a setting of priorities or selection of
resources. The processor, for example, can set up a user interface
with a selection menu to allow selection or prioritization of
resources available to the personal area network. Alternatively,
the master resource manager can automatically select resources
based on predetermined priorities or selection algorithm.
Preferably, the registering step includes periodic checking 305 for
changes in the availability of resources. In this way, the master
resource manager of the network can update its resource table
properly. To provide more seamless operation, the registering step
can include registering an available power reserve of each device
to store in the resource table of the master resource manager, such
that the master resource manager can automatically re-route
information away from those devices with limited power reserves.
More preferably, the registering step includes registering a
preference attribute of each device. Preference attributes can
provide an initial priority of a resource to automatically resolve
conflicts if other similar resources are available. Preferences can
also be established between complimentary resources, such as a
preferred earpiece to be used with a corresponding microphone.
Further preference attributes can include cost and efficiency
characteristics of a particular resource. The master resource
manager can then take the preference attributes of a device into
account when coordinating information transfer among available
resources.
[0025] A next step 306 includes requesting resources from the
master resource manager by an application running on any of the
devices. It is envisioned that a requesting application would
originate on the device of the master resource manager. However,
any of the devices on the personal area network can originate an
application. In such case, the resource manager of the particular
device running the application requests, through the master
resource manager, the necessary resources. It is also envisioned
that, on occasion, there will be more than one application running
on a personal area network. In this instance, there can arise
conflicting demands for resources. Therefore, it is preferred that
this step includes allocating 307 application priorities such that
a new application can preempt resources from another application in
accordance with the priority associated with the new
application.
[0026] A next step 308 includes coordinating information transfer
with the devices in the personal area network in accordance with
their associated available resources. This coordination can be
through the master resource manager, or can be directly between
devices once the master resource manager establishes peer-to-peer
resource protocols for an application. Given any change of status
of a resource, loss of power, conflict, new application, etc., the
resource manager can automatically re-route information to adapt to
changes in the availability of resources.
[0027] It will be recognized that the local area network
communication in the present invention can be an optical local area
network as well as a radio frequency-based local area network or
any other suitable or any other suitable wireless LAN. In this
example, the wireless local area network can be any suitable
short-range local area network as desired.
[0028] It is also understood that the wide area and local area
communication to the individual communication devices might not be
from the same networks. For example, one system may be a UMTS
system to access particular data, while another system may utilize
a GSM system. Similarly, different LAN systems can be utilized. It
should be recognized that protocols can be in place to allow the
desired connection between a communication device, a LAN, and a
WAN, even if the subscriber does not have the capability to access
a particular network.
[0029] As described herein, and as previously noted, each of the
wireless communication devices can include a wireless wide area
network transceiver and a wireless local area network transceiver
along with a processing device that is operatively coupled to the
wireless wide area network transceiver and to the wireless local
area network transceivers wherein the processing device is
operative to perform the above-identified operations. Accordingly,
the processing devices may be programmed with executable
instructions or applications that when executed cause the
processing device or devices to perform the operations described
herein.
[0030] It should be understood that the implementation of other
variations and modifications of the invention in its various
aspects will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and
that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments
described. It is therefore contemplated to cover by the present
invention, any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents
that fall within the broad scope of the basic underlying principles
disclosed and claimed herein.
* * * * *